“Final Journey” by Matsuo Bashō

Japanese poet Bashō composed the following haiku in the winter of 1694, just four days before his death. At the time, despite his illness, he had embarked on another trek across the Japanese countryside.

Ill on a journey—
Through desolate fields my dreams
Aimlessly wander.

—Translated by David Bowles, July 2013


Original Japanese

tabi ni yande
yume wa kareno o
kakemeguru

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